Data transfer utilizing preview data

ABSTRACT

In an image data server  200,  a preview data generation unit  218  generates preview data corresponding to image data, and a transmission controller  211  transmits the preview data to a computer system  100  in an image receiver apparatus. In accordance with another possible application, the preview data is not generated by the image data server  200,  but is generated by a computer system  300  in an image transmitter apparatus, which transmits the image data to the image data server  200,  and transmitted to the image data server  200.  In the computer system  100  in the image receiver apparatus, a display controller  113  causes the contents of the preview data to be displayed on the screen of a monitor  150.  The user determines whether or not the image data corresponding to the displayed preview image is required. In response to an instruction for transfer of the image data input from the user, a transmission controller  111  transmits a request for transfer of the image data to the image data server  200.  The transmission controller  211  then transmits the image data, which is the object of the request for transfer, to the computer system  100  in the image receiver apparatus. A print controller  114  causes the image data to be subjected to predetermined image processing, and a printer  180  prints the processed image data on a printing sheet of paper. This arrangement of the present invention enables the image receiver apparatus to selectively receive only the required data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a technique for transmittingdata between apparatuses respectively connected to a network.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Facsimile and E-mail are known means for transmitting image databetween apparatuses respectively connected to a telephone communicationnetwork, the Internet, or an intranet.

[0005] These known means transmit image data irrespective of theintentions of a receiver, and do not allow the receiver to selectivelyreceive only the required image data. The image data generally has anextremely large data capacity. In the case where the transmitted imagedata is not required, such data transmission wastefully consumes thecommunication resources as well as the resources in the receiver, suchas printing paper (in the case of facsimile) and the data storage area(in the case of E-mail).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The object of the present invention is thus to provide a datatransfer system and a method of data transmission that allow a receiverto selectively receive only required data.

[0007] At least part of the above and the other related objects isrealized by a data transfer system including: a transmitter; and areceiver connected to the transmitter via a network. The transmitterincludes a memory that stores original data, a first transmission unitthat transmits the original data and preview data created correspondingto the original data, and a first controller that controls operation ofthe transmitter. The receiver includes a second transmission unit thatreceives at least the preview data, an input unit, an output unit, and asecond controller that controls operation of the receiver. The firstcontroller causes the first transmission unit to send the preview datato the receiver, whereas the second controller receives the preview datafrom the second transmission unit and subsequently causes the outputunit to output a preview image represented by the preview data. Thesecond controller causes the second transmission unit to send a requestfor transfer of the original data to the transmitter when an instructionfor transfer of the original data is input into the receiver via theinput unit. The first controller causes the first transmission unit tosend the original data stored in the memory to at least one of thereceiver and another apparatus connected to the network when receivingthe request for transfer of the original data from the firsttransmission unit.

[0008] The present invention is also directed to a transmitter fortransmitting data to a receiver via a network. The transmitter includes:a memory that stores original data; a transmission unit that transmitsthe original data and preview data created corresponding to the originaldata; and a controller that controls operation of the transmitter. Thecontroller causes the transmission unit to send the preview data to thereceiver. The controller causes the transmission unit to send theoriginal data stored in the memory to at least one of the receiver andanother apparatus connected to the network when receiving a request fortransfer of the original data transmitted from the receiver via thetransmission unit.

[0009] The present invention is also directed to a receiver forreceiving data from a transmitter via a network. The receiver includes:a transmission unit that receives at least preview data createdcorresponding to original data; an input unit; an output unit; and acontroller that controls operation of the receiver. The controllercauses the output unit to output a preview image represented by thepreview data when receiving the preview data transmitted from thetransmitter via transmission unit. The controller causes thetransmission unit to send a request for transfer of the original data tothe transmitter when an instruction for transfer of the original data isinput into the receiver via the input unit.

[0010] The present invention is also directed to a method oftransmitting data between a transmitter and a receiver each connected toa network. The method includes the steps of: (a) causing the transmitterto transmit preview data created corresponding to original data to thereceiver; (b) causing the receiver to output a preview image representedby the preview data when the receiver receives the preview data; (c)causing the receiver to transmit a request for transfer of the originaldata to the transmitter when an instruction for transfer of the originaldata is input into the receiver; and (d) causing the transmitter totransmit the original data to at least one of the receiver and anotherapparatus connected to the network when the transmitter receives therequest for transfer.

[0011] The present invention is also directed to a computer programproduct that causes a computer to transmit data to a receiver via anetwork. The computer program product includes: a computer readablemedium; a first program code unit that causes the computer to transmitpreview data created corresponding to original data to the receiver; asecond program code unit that causes the computer to receive a requestfor transfer of the original data when the receiver transmits therequest for transfer; and a third program code unit that causes thecomputer to transmit the original data to at least one of the receiverand another apparatus connected to the network, when the computerreceives the request for transfer, wherein each of the program codeunits is stored on the computer readable medium.

[0012] The present invention is also directed to a computer programproduct that causes a computer to receive data from a transmitter via anetwork. The computer program product includes: a computer readablemedium; a first program code unit that causes the computer to receivepreview data created corresponding to original data when the transmittertransmits the preview data; a second program code unit that causes thecomputer to output a preview image represented by the preview data whenthe computer receives the preview data; and a third program code unitthat causes the computer to transmit a request for transfer of theoriginal data to the transmitter when the computer receives aninstruction for transfer of the original data, wherein each of theprogram code units is stored on the computer readable medium.

[0013] In the arrangement of the present invention, the transmittertransmits the preview data, which has been created corresponding to theoriginal data, to the receiver. The receiver then outputs the previewimage represented by the transmitted preview data to enable the visualcheck. For example, the receiver causes the preview image represented bythe preview data to be displayed on the screen of a monitor or to beprinted on printing paper by a printer, in order to enable the user tovisually check the output.

[0014] The user of the receiver visually checks the preview imagerepresented by the preview data and determines whether or not theoriginal data corresponding to the preview data. In the case where thecorresponding original data is required, the user inputs an instructionfor transfer of the original data to the receiver through the operationof the input unit. The receiver transmits a request for transfer of theoriginal data to the transmitter in response to the input instruction.The transmitter receives the request for transfer and transmits therequired original data to a preset apparatus. The preset apparatus maybe identical with or different from the receiver.

[0015] The data transfer system of the present invention transmits thepreview data irrespective of the intentions of the user of the receiver.The preview data has, however, an extremely smaller data capacity thanthat of the original data. This accordingly does not wastefully consumethe communication resources or the resources of the receiver. Thereceiver visually checks the contents of the preview data and issues arequest for transfer of only the required original data, so as to enableonly the required original data to be received by a preset apparatus.This arrangement effectively prevents the communication resources andthe resources in the receiver from being wastefully consumed.

[0016] These and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image data transfersystem in a first embodiment according to the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 2 shows an example of the image data transfer system of FIG.1 actualized on the Internet;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing routine executed in thedata transfer system of FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 4 shows one exemplified window for print settings displayedon the screen of a monitor 150 based on user interface data;

[0021]FIG. 5 shows another exemplified window for print settingsdisplayed on the screen of the monitor 150 based on the user interfacedata; and

[0022]FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a mobileterminal 400 used in an image data transfer system in a secondembodiment according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image data transfersystem in a first embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2shows an example of the image data transfer system of FIG. 1 actualizedon the Internet.

[0024] The image data transfer system of the embodiment includes acomputer system 100 in an image receiver apparatus and an image dataserver 200. The computer system 100 in the image receiver apparatus isconnected with the image data server 200 via the Internet 500 as shownin FIG. 2. A computer system 300 in an image transmitter apparatus aswell as a mobile terminal 400 is also connected to the Internet 500.Although the respective apparatuses are directly connected to theInternet in the illustration of FIG. 2, these apparatuses are generallyconnected to the Internet 500 indirectly via a telephone communicationnetwork or another network, such as LAN.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, the computer system 100 in the imagereceiver apparatus includes a CPU 110 that carries out a variety ofprocessing and control operations according to computer programs, an I/Ounit 120 that transmits data to and from a variety of peripheraldevices, and a memory 130, in which the computer programs are stored anddata obtained in the course of processing are temporarily registered.The computer system 100 further includes an input device 140 that isused to input, for example, an instruction from a user, a monitor 150,on which the contents of data are displayed, a communication device 160that communicates with another apparatus via the network, a hard diskdrive 170, in which a variety of data are stored, a printer 180 that isused to print the contents of data, and a CD-ROM drive 190.

[0026] The CPU 110 carries out the processing and control operationsaccording to the computer programs, so as to function as a transmissioncontrol unit 111, an input control unit 112, a display control unit 113,and a print control unit 114.

[0027] Like the computer system 100 in the image receiver apparatus, theimage data server 200 includes a CPU 210, an I/O unit 220, a memory 230,an input device 240, a monitor 250, a communication device 260, a harddisk drive 270, and a CD-ROM drive 290.

[0028] The CPU 210 carries out a variety of processing and controloperations according to computer programs stored in the memory 230, soas to function as a transmission control unit 211, an input control unit212, a display control unit 213, and a preview data generation unit 218.

[0029] In this embodiment, the computer programs (that is, applicationsprograms) recorded in recording media, CD-ROMs 195 and 295 arerespectively read by the CD-ROM drives 190 and 290 and taken into thecomputer system 100 in the image receiver apparatus and the image dataserver 200. The input computer programs are transferred to the hard diskdrives 170 and 270 and transmitted to the memories 130 and 230, forexample, at the time of starting the operation.

[0030] This embodiment utilizes the CD-ROMs as the recording media, inwhich the computer programs are recorded in a computer readable manner.A variety of other computer readable media may also be used for therecording media; for example, flexible disks, magneto-optic discs, ICcards, ROM cartridges, punched cards, prints with bar codes or othercodes printed thereon, and internal storage devices (memories, such asRAM and ROM) and external storage devices of the computer.

[0031] Instead of reading the computer programs stored in such recordingmedia, the user may access a program server (not shown) for supplyingcomputer programs via the network and take the computer programs fromthe program server into the computer system 100 in the image receiverapparatus or the image data server 200.

[0032] Part of the computer programs may be replaced by the operatingsystem.

[0033] In this embodiment, the software actualizes the functions of thetransmission control unit 111, the input control unit 112, the displaycontrol unit 113, and the print control unit 114 in the computer system100 of the image receiver apparatus as well as the transmission controlunit 211, the input control unit 212, the display control unit 213, andthe preview data generation unit 218 in the image data server 200. Thefunctions of these units may otherwise be actualized by the hardwarestructure.

[0034]FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing routine executed in thedata transfer system of FIG. 1. The fundamental operation of thisembodiment is described by referring to the flowchart of FIG. 3. Here itis assumed that required image data is transferred from the computersystem 300 in the image transmitter apparatus to the computer system 100in the image receiver apparatus.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, the computer system 300 in the imagetransmitter apparatus transmits required image data to the image dataserver 200 via the Internet at step S20. The image data, for example,consists of gray-scaled bit-map data of R, G, and B. In the image dataserver 200 shown in FIG. 1, the communication device 260 receives thetransmitted image data, and the transmission control unit 211 of the CPU210 stores the input image data into the hard disk drive 270 via the I/Ounit 220. The hard disk drive 270 stores such transmitted image data aswell as user interface data discussed later.

[0036] The preview data generation unit 218 reads the image data fromthe hard disk drive 270, generates preview data based on the input imagedata, and stores the preview data into the hard disk drive 270 at stepS22. One concrete procedure causes the image data to undergo an imageprocessing operation, such as a data skipping operation, and generatesreduced image data as the preview data. Another concrete procedureextracts attribute information (for example, the creator or transmitterof the image, the date of creation, the name and the type of the image)from the information attached to the image data and generates attributedata as the preview data.

[0037] The transmission control unit 211 subsequently reads thegenerated preview data from the hard disk drive 270 and transmits theinput preview data via the communication device 260 to the client or thecomputer system 100 in the image receiver apparatus at step S24. Thetransmission control unit 211 also reads the user interface data fromthe hard disk drive 270 and transmits the input user interface data tothe computer system 100 in the image receiver apparatus at step S26.

[0038] In the computer system 100 of the image receiver apparatus, thecommunication device 160 receives the transmitted preview data and userinterface data, and the transmission control unit 111 of the CPU 110stores the input preview data and user interface data into the hard diskdrive 170 via the I/O unit 120.

[0039] When the user of the computer system 100 in the image receiverapparatus inputs an instruction for displaying a preview image throughthe operation of the input device 140, the input control unit 112transmits the instruction to the display control unit 113. The displaycontrol unit 113 then reads the preview data and the user interface datafrom the hard disk drive 170 and causes the contents of the preview dataand the user interface data to be displayed on the screen of the monitor150 at step S28. A preview image corresponding to the preview data isaccordingly displayed in a window based on the user interface data onthe screen of the monitor 150.

[0040] The user checks the displayed preview image and determineswhether or not the original image data corresponding to the preview datais required at step S30. When the corresponding original image data isnot required, the user inputs an instruction for terminating the displayof the preview image and concludes a series of the processing. When thecorresponding original image data is required, on the other hand, theuser inputs an instruction for displaying a window for print settings,that is, a window for enabling input of various pieces of settinginformation that are used to print the image represented by the originalimage data on a sheet of printing paper. In one exemplified structure,the user interface data provides specific buttons in the window thatrespectively correspond to the instruction for terminating the displayof the preview image and the instruction for displaying the window forprint settings. The user clicks the required button through theoperation of the input device 140 to input the desired instruction.

[0041] In the case where the instruction for displaying the window forprint settings is input, the input control unit 112 transfers theinstruction to the transmission control unit 111, and the transmissioncontrol unit 111 transmits a request for transfer of the required userinterface data, which is used to display the window for print settings,via the communication device 160 to the image data server 200 at stepS32.

[0042] In the image data server 200, the communication device 260receives the transmitted request for transfer, and the transmissioncontrol unit 211 reads the user interface data, which is used to displaythe window for print settings, from the hard disk drive 270 andtransmits the input user interface data to the computer system 100 inthe image receiver apparatus via the communication device 260 at stepS34.

[0043] In this embodiment, the user interface data provided in the imagedata server 200 is not exclusively used by the computer system 100 ofthe image receiver apparatus, but is generally used by a large number ofclients connected to the Internet 500. The user interface data thusmainly consists of HTML data written in HTML (HyperText MarkupLanguage).

[0044] The Internet 500 is in the environment where various machinetypes coexist. It is difficult for the image data server 200 to checkthe machine type of each client. In the case where the user interfacedata is generated according to a program that depends upon a specificmachine type and is supplied to each client, some clients naturally cannot utilize the user interface data. It is, however, practicallyimpossible to provide the user interface data for each machine type andsupply the required user interface data corresponding to the machinetype of each client. This embodiment thus generates the user interfacedata written in the HTML that is independent of the machine type and iseasily utilized.

[0045] The HTML data includes image data, such as GIF (graphicsInterchange Format) and JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), andother data related thereto with predetermined tags. Data written in JAVA(a programming language developed by Sun Microsystems Corp.) that isalso independent of the machine type may be used instead of the HTMLdata.

[0046] In the computer system 100 of the image receiver apparatus, whenthe communication device 160 receives the transmitted user interfacedata, while the transmission control unit 111 stores the input userinterface data into the hard disk drive 170, the display control unit113 displays the user interface window represented by the user interfacedata, that is, the window for print settings, on the screen of themonitor 150 at step S36. As described previously, the user interfacedata is the HTML data and thus readily displayed using a known Webbrowser software.

[0047]FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively show exemplified windows for printsettings displayed on the screen of the monitor 150, based on thetransmitted user interface data. FIG. 4 shows the window for papersettings, and FIG. 5 shows the window for print specification.

[0048] The window for paper settings as shown in FIG. 4 is firstdisplayed on the screen of the monitor 150. The user of the computersystem 100 in the image receiver apparatus inputs details of papersettings 151, which include the paper size, the paper source, theorientation, and the print size, corresponding to the printing paper setin the printer 180 through the operation of the input device 140. Onconclusion of the input, the user clicks an OK button 152. This causesthe window for print specification as shown in FIG. 5 to appear. Theuser then inputs details of print specification 154, which include thenumber of copies, the printing range, the printing quality, the papertype, and the ink color, according to the requirements through theoperation of the input device 140. At step S38, the user clicks an OKbutton 155 when it is required to transmit the original image data andprint the image represented by the original image data, whereas the userclicks a Cancel button 156 when it is not required.

[0049] The input control unit 112 transmits the various pieces of inputsetting information and the results of button clicking to thetransmission control unit 111. In the case where the Cancel button 156is clicked in the window for print specification, the transmissioncontrol unit 111 concludes the, series of processing. In the case wherethe OK button 155 is clicked in the window for print specification, onthe other hand, the transmission control unit 111 transmits a requestfor transfer of the original image data as well as the input settinginformation to the image data server 200 via the communication device160 at step S40.

[0050] In the image data server 200, when the communication device 260receives the transmitted request for transfer and setting information,the transmission control unit 211 transmits back all or part of thesetting information via the communication device 260 to the computersystem 100 in the image receiver apparatus at step S42. As describedpreviously, the user interface data fed from the image data server 200to the computer system 100 in the image receiver apparatus is the HTMLdata. The user interface data may thus have a mechanism for calling asoftware component, in order to utilize a CGI (Common Gateway Interface)function on the image data server 200. This embodiment takes advantageof this mechanism set in the user interface data and causes the settinginformation transmitted from the computer system 100 in the imagereceiver apparatus to be transmitted back from the image data server 200to the computer system 100 in the image receiver apparatus.

[0051] Simultaneously with transmitting back the setting information,the transmission control unit 211 reads the original image data, whichis the target of the request for transfer, from the hard disk drive 270and transmits the original image data via the communication device 260to the computer system 100 in the image receiver apparatus at step S42.

[0052] In the computer system 100 of the image receiver apparatus, whenthe communication device 160 receives the transmitted settinginformation and the original image data, the transmission control unit111 transfers the input setting information and original image data tothe print control unit 114. The print control unit 114 is actualized bya printer driver software, which is exclusive for the printer 180, andincludes a resolution conversion element 115, a color conversion element116, and a halftone processing element 117 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0053] The respective constituents of the print control unit 114 causethe input image data to be subjected to the following processingoperations, in order to create a desired printed image based on theinput setting information. The resolution conversion element 115 firstperforms a resolution conversion process, such as interpolation or dataskipping, for the input image data, so as to cause a printed image tohave a desired resolution. The color conversion element 116 thenconverts the RGB image data into, for example, CYMK data correspondingto the input of the printer 180. The halftone processing element 117subsequently carries out a known dither operation or error diffusionoperation for the image data, so as to cause the printed image to attaina desired tone expression.

[0054] On conclusion of the processing, the print control unit 114outputs the processed image data via the I/O unit 120 to the printer180, so that the printer 180 prints an image corresponding to the imagedata on the printing paper at step S44.

[0055] In this manner, the image data is transmitted from the computersystem 300 of the image transmitter apparatus via the image data server200 to the computer system 100 of the image receiver apparatus and isprinted in the computer system 100 of the image receiver apparatus. Theuser of the computer system 100 in the image receiver apparatus can thusreceive a desired image.

[0056] As described above, in this embodiment, the image data server 200generates preview data corresponding to the input image data andtransmits the preview data to the computer system 100 of the imagereceiver apparatus. This means that the preview data is transmitted tothe computer system 100 of the image receiver apparatus, irrespective ofthe intentions of the user of the computer system 100 in the imagereceiver apparatus (that is, the receiver). The preview data has,however, an extremely smaller data capacity than that of the originalimage data and thereby does not significantly increase the traffics onthe Internet 500 nor wastefully consumes the communication resources.The preview data does not wastefully consume the storage capacity of thehard disk drive 170 in the computer system 100 of the image receiverapparatus.

[0057] The arrangement of the embodiment enables the user of thecomputer system 100 in the image receiver apparatus to check thecontents of the preview data and issue a request for transfer withrespect to only the required original image data, so as to selectivelyreceive only the required original image data. This effectively preventsthe communication resources and the resources in the receiver apparatusfrom being wastefully consumed.

[0058] In this embodiment, the computer system 100 in the image receiverapparatus utilizes the user interface data provided by the image dataserver 200. Namely the computer system 100 in the image receiverapparatus is not required to provide a special user interface fordisplaying the window for print settings. A modification of the userinterface data in the image data server 200 enables the user interfacesto be changed at the same time in all the clients that utilize the userinterface data. This facilitates the maintenance and management of theuser interface. As discussed previously, the user interface dataconsists of the HTML data and is thereby independent of the machine typeof the client.

[0059] In the first embodiment discussed above, the original image datais transmitted to the apparatus that receives the transmitted previewdata. In accordance with another configuration, the apparatus thatreceives the transmitted preview data may be different from theapparatus that receives the transmitted original image data. Thefollowing describes such configuration as another embodiment.

[0060]FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the mobileterminal 400 used in the image data transfer system in a secondembodiment according to the present invention. The mobile terminal 400is connected to the Internet 500 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 6, the mobile terminal 400 includes a CPU 410for carrying out a variety of processing and control operationsaccording to programs, an I/O unit 420 that transmits data to and from avariety of peripheral devices, a memory 430 that stores the programs andtemporarily registers data obtained in the course of the processing, aninput device 440 for inputting, for example, an instruction from theuser, a monitor 450 for displaying the contents of the data, and acommunication device 460 that carries out communication with anotherapparatus through the network.

[0062] The CPU 410 carries out the operations according to the programsand thereby functions as a transmission control unit 411, an inputcontrol unit 412, and a display control unit 413.

[0063] In this embodiment, the variety of peripheral devices areintegrally attached to the mobile terminal 400. The mobile terminal 400has the size and the weight that enable the user to freely carry themobile terminal 400.

[0064] In this embodiment, while the preview data is transmitted to themobile terminal 400, the original image data is transmitted to theapparatus that is specified by the user of the mobile terminal 400. Asshown in FIG. 6, the mobile terminal 400 does not have a hard disk driveor a printer. It is accordingly impossible for the mobile terminal 400to store the original image data and print the contents of the imagedata even when the original image data is transmitted from the imagedata server 200. The original image data is accordingly transmitted to adesired apparatus other than the mobile terminal 400.

[0065] The following describes the operations of the second embodimentwith referring to FIGS. 1 and 6. Among the operations of the secondembodiment, the operations up to generation of the preview data in theimage data server 200 are identical with those of the first embodimentand are thereby not specifically described here.

[0066] In the image data server 200, the transmission control unit 211reads the generated preview data from the hard disk drive 270 andtransmits the preview data via the communication device 260 to theclient or mobile terminal 400. The transmission control unit 211 alsoreads the user interface data from the hard disk drive 270 and transmitsthe user interface data to the mobile terminal 400.

[0067] In the mobile terminal 400, the communication device 460 receivesthe transmitted preview data and user interface data, and thetransmission control unit 411 of the CPU 410 stores the input previewdata and user interface data into the memory 430. The preview data hasan extremely smaller data capacity than that of the original image dataand can thus be stored in the memory 430 without any troubles.

[0068] When the user of the mobile terminal 400 inputs an instructionfor displaying a preview image through the operation of the input device440, the input control unit 412 transfers the instruction to the displaycontrol unit 413. The display control unit 413 then reads the previewdata and the user interface data from the memory 430 and causes thecontents of the preview data and the user interface data on the screenof the monitor 450.

[0069] The user checks the preview image and determines whether or notthe original image data corresponding to the preview data is required.When the corresponding original image data is required, the user inputsan instruction for displaying the window for print settings. The inputcontrol unit 412 then transfers the instruction to the transmissioncontrol unit 411, and the transmission control unit 411 transmits arequest for transfer of the user interface data, which is used todisplay the window for print settings, to the image data server 200 viathe communication device 460.

[0070] In the image data server 200, the communication device 260receives the transmitted request for transfer, and the transmissioncontrol unit 211 reads the user interface data for displaying the windowfor print settings from the hard disk drive 270 and transmits the userinterface data to the mobile terminal 400 via the communication device260.

[0071] In the mobile terminal 400, the communication device 460 receivesthe transmitted user interface data, and the transmission control unit411 stores the input user interface data into the memory 430.Simultaneously the display control unit 413 causes the user interfacewindow of the user interface data, that is, the window for printsettings, to be displayed on the screen of the monitor 450.

[0072] The windows for print settings displayed in the second embodimentare similar to those shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, except several additionaldata areas. The additional data areas include a data area for setting anaddress of transmission of the image data and a data area for setting adate and time for reserved transmission of the image data.

[0073] Information representing the location of an apparatus, to whichthe original image data is to be actually transmitted, (that is, anapparatus selected by the user to receive the original image data), onthe Internet 500 is input into the data area for setting the address oftransmission of the image data. Concrete examples of such informationinclude an IP (Internet Protocol) address or URL (Uniform ResourceLocator) of the desired apparatus. The apparatus, to which the originalimage data is to be transmitted, should have the capability to store thetransmitted image data and print the contents of the image data. It isthus required for the user of the mobile terminal 400 to specify anappropriate apparatus having such capability as the address oftransmission of the image data. In this embodiment, the computer system100 in the image receiver apparatus is specified as the address oftransmission of the image data. The user accordingly inputs the IPaddress of the computer system 100 in the image receiver apparatus intothe data area for setting the address of transmission of the image data.

[0074] The date and time, when the original image data is to betransmitted from the image data server 200 to the specified address, isinput into the data area for setting the date and time for reservedtransmission of the image data. For example, when the computer system100 in the image receiver apparatus specified as the address oftransmission of the image data is remote from the mobile terminal 400,the user of the mobile terminal 400 can not grasp the current state ofthe computer system 100 in the image receiver apparatus. Even when theimage data is transmitted from the image data server 200, there is apossibility that the computer system 100 in the image receiver apparatuscan not receive the image data or print the contents of the image data.One preferable procedure specifies in advance the date and time when theimage data server 200 will transmit the original image data and causesthe computer system 100 in the image receiver apparatus specified as theaddress of transmission of the image data to prepare for receiving theimage data. This arrangement enables the computer system 100 in theimage receiver apparatus to securely receive the transmitted image dataand print the contents of the image data.

[0075] The input control unit 412 transmits the various pieces of inputsetting information and the results of button clicking to thetransmission control unit 411. When the OK button 155 is clicked in thewindow for print specification, the transmission control unit 411transmits the setting information as well as the request for transfer ofthe original image data to the image data server 200 via thecommunication device 460.

[0076] In the image data server 200, when the communication device 260receives the transmitted request for transfer and setting information,the transmission control unit 211 sets the date and time for reservedtransmission of the image data into a timer while storing the settinginformation into the hard disk drive 270. The transmission control unit211 then reads the original image data, which is the target of therequest for transfer, and the setting information from the hard diskdrive 270 on the date and time set in the timer for reservedtransmission of the image data. The transmission control unit 211subsequently transmits the image data and the setting information to thecomputer system 100 in the image receiver apparatus, based on theinformation representing the address of transmission of the image data.

[0077] The operations after the transmission of the image data from theimage data server 200 in the second embodiment are identical with thoseof the first embodiment and are thereby not specifically described here.

[0078] As described above, the structure of the second embodimentenables the user of the mobile terminal 400 to visually check thepreview image displayed on the mobile terminal 400. In the case wherethe original image data corresponding to the preview data is required,the user can receive the desired original image data in a desiredapparatus.

[0079] The user interface data consists of the HTML data as describedpreviously. When the user interface data has the mechanism for callingthe software component to utilize the CGI, the mobile terminal 400 canremote control the functions of the image data server 200. Thisarrangement enables the image data server 200 to be in charge of thehigh-performance processing, when the CPU 410 of the mobile terminal 400has a relatively low processing capacity.

[0080] The present invention is not restricted to the above embodimentsor their modifications, but there may be many other modifications,changes, and alterations without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe main characteristics of the present invention.

[0081] In the above embodiments, the preview data is generated in theimage data server 200. It is, however, not necessary to generate thepreview data in the image data server 200. Another possible applicationgenerates the preview data in the computer system 300 of the imagetransmitter apparatus and transmits the preview data together with thecorresponding original image data to the image data server 200.

[0082] In the above embodiments, the required image data is oncetransmitted from the computer system 300 in the image transmitterapparatus to the image data server 200. The preview data and the imagedata are then transmitted from the image data server 200 to thereceiver, for example, the computer system 100 in the image receiverapparatus or the mobile terminal 400. The principle of the presentinvention is, however, not restricted to this arrangement. In the casewhere the computer system 300 in the image transmitter apparatus has thefunctions equivalent to those of the image data server 200, the previewdata and the image data may be transmitted directly from the computersystem 300 in the image transmitter apparatus to the receiver.

[0083] The above embodiments regard the transmission of image data. Theprinciple of the present invention is, however, not restricted to thisarrangement, but is applicable for transmission of text data. Namely,the ‘original data’ in this specification means various types of data,such as image data and text data. In the case of transmission of textdata, the preview data generated corresponding to the text data may beabstract data representing an abstract of the text data, extraction datarepresenting first several rows in the text data, or attribute dataobtained by extracting the attribute information attached to the textdata as discussed in the above embodiments. Namely, the ‘preview image’in this specification means various types of images represented by data,such as preview image data and preview text data.

[0084] In the above embodiments, the image data server 200 is connectedto the receiver via the Internet 500. The principle of the presentinvention is, however, not restricted to the Internet, but theseapparatuses may be connected to each other via a telephone communicationnetwork, a LAN, a WAN (including an intranet), or any other network.

[0085] In the above embodiments, the contents of the preview data aredisplayed on the screen of the monitor. Alternatively the contents ofthe preview data may be printed on the printing paper with the printer.The contents of the image data are printed on the printing paper withthe printer in the above embodiments. Alternatively the contents of theimage data may be displayed on the screen of the monitor. Both the datamay be output by any output means other than the monitor or the printer,in order to enable the user to visually check the contents of the data.

[0086] In the above embodiment, the image data transmitted from thecomputer system 300 in the image transmitter apparatus to the receivervia the image data server 200 consists of the gray-scale bit-map data ofR, G, and B. The principle of the present invention is, however, notrestricted to such image data, but is applicable to any image datahaving the data structure that is independent of the control codes ofthe printer or the like.

[0087] It should be clearly understood that the above embodiments areonly illustrative and not restrictive in any sense. The scope and spiritof the present invention are limited only by the terms of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A data transfer system comprising: a transmitter;and a receiver connected to the transmitter via a network; thetransmitter including a memory that stores original data, a firsttransmission unit that transmits the original data and preview datacreated corresponding to the original data, and a first controller thatcontrols operation of the transmitter, the receiver including a secondtransmission unit that receives at least the preview data, an inputunit, an output unit, and a second controller that controls operation ofthe receiver, the first controller causing the first transmission unitto send the preview data to the receiver, whereas the second controllerreceiving the preview data from the second transmission unit andsubsequently causing the output unit to output a preview imagerepresented by the preview data, the second controller causing thesecond transmission unit to send a request for transfer of the originaldata to the transmitter when an instruction for transfer of the originaldata is input into the receiver via the input unit, the first controllercausing the first transmission unit to send the original data stored inthe memory to at least one of the receiver and another apparatusconnected to the network when receiving the request for transfer of theoriginal data from the first transmission unit.
 2. A data transfersystem in accordance with claim 1, wherein the output unit includes adisplay device, the first controller causes the first transmission unitto send user interface data together with the preview data to thereceiver, whereas the second controller receives the user interface datafrom the second transmission unit and subsequently causes the displaydevice to display a user interface window represented by the userinterface data, the second controller causes the second transmissionunit to send specification information, which is used to cause theoutput unit to output a image represented by the original data, togetherwith the request for transfer of the original data to the transmitterwhen the specification information is input together with theinstruction for transfer of the original data into the receiver via theinput unit, the first controller causes the first transmission unit tosend at least part of the specification information to the apparatus, towhich the original data is to be transmitted, when receiving thespecification information from the first transmission unit.
 3. A datatransfer system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the secondcontroller causes the second transmission unit to send addressinformation that specifies a location on the network, to which theoriginal data is to be transmitted, together with the request fortransfer of the original data to the transmitter when the addressinformation is input together with the instruction for transfer of theoriginal data into the receiver via the input unit, and wherein thefirst controller causes the first transmission unit to send the originaldata to the location specified by the address information when receivingthe address information from the first transmission unit.
 4. A datatransfer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the secondcontroller causes the second transmission unit to send addressinformation that specifies a location on the network, to which theoriginal data is to be transmitted, together with the request fortransfer of the original data to the transmitter when the addressinformation is input together with the instruction for transfer of theoriginal data into the receiver via the input unit, and wherein thefirst controller causes the first transmission unit to send the originaldata to the location specified by the address information when receivingthe address information from the first transmission unit.
 5. Atransmitter for transmitting data to a receiver via a network, thetransmitter comprising: a memory that stores original data; atransmission unit that transmits the original data and preview datacreated corresponding to the original data; and a controller thatcontrols operation of the transmitter, the controller causing thetransmission unit to send the preview data to the receiver, thecontroller causing the transmission unit to send the original datastored in the memory to at least one of the receiver and anotherapparatus connected to the network when receiving a request for transferof the original data transmitted from the receiver via the transmissionunit.
 6. A receiver for receiving data from a transmitter via a network,the receiver comprising: a transmission unit that receives at leastpreview data created corresponding to original data; an input unit; anoutput unit; and a controller that controls operation of the receiver,the controller causing the output unit to output a preview imagerepresented by the preview data when receiving the preview datatransmitted from the transmitter via transmission unit, the controllercausing the transmission unit to send a request for transfer of theoriginal data to the transmitter when an instruction for transfer of theoriginal data is input into the receiver via the input unit.
 7. A methodof transmitting data between a transmitter and a receiver each connectedto a network, the method comprising the steps of: (a) causing thetransmitter to transmit preview data created corresponding to originaldata to the receiver; (b) causing the receiver to output a preview imagerepresented by the preview data when the receiver receives the previewdata; (c) causing the receiver to transmit a request for transfer of theoriginal data to the transmitter when an instruction for transfer of theoriginal data is input into the receiver; and (d) causing thetransmitter to transmit the original data to at least one of thereceiver and another apparatus connected to the network when thetransmitter receives the request for transfer.
 8. A method in accordancewith claim 7, wherein the step (a) comprises the step of: causing thetransmitter to transmit user interface data together with the previewdata to the receiver, wherein the step (b) comprises the step of:causing the receiver to output a user interface window represented bythe user interface data when the receiver receives the user interfacedata together with the preview data, wherein the step (c) comprises thestep of: causing the receiver to transmit specification information,which is used to cause a image represented by the original data to beoutput, together with the request for transfer of the original data tothe transmitter when the receiver receives the specification informationtogether with the instruction for transfer of the original data, andwherein the step (d) comprises the step of: causing transmitter totransmit at least part of the specification information to theapparatus, to which the original data is to be transmitted, when thetransmitter receives the specification information together with therequest for transfer.
 9. A method in accordance with claim 8, whereinthe step (c) comprises the step of: causing the receiver to transmitaddress information that specifies a location on the network, to whichthe original data is to be transmitted, together with the request fortransfer of the original data to the transmitter when the receiverreceives the address information together with the instruction fortransfer of the original data, and wherein the step (d) comprises thestep of: causing the transmitter to transmit the original data to thelocation specified by the address information when the transmitterreceives the address information together with the request for transfer.10. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the step (c) comprisesthe step of: causing the receiver to transmit address information thatspecifies a location on the network, to which the original data is to betransmitted, together with the request for transfer of the original datato the transmitter when the receiver receives the address informationtogether with the instruction for transfer of the original data, andwherein the step (d) comprises the step of: causing the transmitter totransmit the original data to the location specified by the addressinformation when the transmitter receives the address informationtogether with the request for transfer.
 11. A computer program productthat causes a computer to transmit data to a receiver via a network, thecomputer program product comprising: a computer readable medium; a firstprogram code unit that causes the computer to transmit preview datacreated corresponding to original data to the receiver; a second programcode unit that causes the computer to receive a request for transfer ofthe original data when the receiver transmits the request for transfer;and a third program code unit that causes the computer to transmit theoriginal data to at least one of the receiver and another apparatusconnected to the network when the computer receives the request fortransfer, wherein each of the program code units is stored on thecomputer readable medium.
 12. A computer program product in accordancewith claim 11, wherein the first program code unit causes the computerto transmit user interface data together with the preview data to thereceiver, wherein the second program code unit causes the computer toreceive specification information, which is used to cause a imagerepresented by the original data to be output, together with the requestfor transfer of the original data when the receiver transmits thespecification information together with the request for transfer, andwherein the third program code unit causes the computer to transmit atleast part of the specification information to the apparatus, to whichthe original data is to be transmitted, when the computer receives thespecification information together with the request for transfer.
 13. Acomputer program product in accordance with claim 12, wherein the secondprogram code unit causes the computer to receive address informationthat specifies a location on the network, to which the original data isto be transmitted, together with the request for transfer of theoriginal data when the receiver transmits the address informationtogether with the request for transfer, and wherein the third programcode unit causes the computer to transmit the original data to thelocation specified by the address information when the computer receivesthe address information together with the request for transfer.
 14. Acomputer program product in accordance with claim 11, wherein the secondprogram code unit causes the computer to receive address informationthat specifies a location on the network, to which the original data isto be transmitted, together with the request for transfer of theoriginal data when the receiver transmits the address informationtogether with the request for transfer, and wherein the third programcode unit causes the computer to transmit the original data to thelocation specified by the address information when the computer receivesthe address information together with the request for transfer.
 15. Acomputer program product that causes a computer to receive data from atransmitter via a network, the computer program product comprising: acomputer readable medium; a first program code unit that causes thecomputer to receive preview data created corresponding to original datawhen the transmitter transmits the preview data; a second program codeunit that causes the computer to output a preview image represented bythe preview data when the computer receives the preview data; and athird program code unit that causes the computer to transmit a requestfor transfer of the original data to the transmitter when the computerreceives an instruction for transfer of the original data, wherein eachof the program code units is stored on the computer readable medium. 16.A computer program product in accordance with claim 15, wherein thefirst program code unit causes the computer to receive user interfacedata together with the preview data when the transmitter transmits theuser interface data together with the preview data, wherein the secondprogram code unit causes the computer to output a user interface windowrepresented by the user interface data when the computer receives theuser interface data together with the preview data, and wherein thethird program code unit causes the computer to transmit specificationinformation, which is used to cause a image represented by the originaldata to be output, together with the request for transfer of theoriginal data to the transmitter when the computer receives thespecification information together with the instruction for transfer ofthe original data.
 17. A computer program product in accordance withclaim 16, wherein the third program code unit causes the computer totransmit address information that specifies a location on the network,to which the original data is to be transmitted, together with therequest for transfer of the original data to the transmitter when thecomputer receives the address information together with the instructionfor transfer of the original data.
 18. A computer program product inaccordance with claim 15, wherein the third program code unit causes thecomputer to transmit address information that specifies a location onthe network, to which the original data is to be transmitted, togetherwith the request for transfer of the original data to the transmitterwhen the computer receives the address information together with theinstruction for transfer of the original data.